Limecrete
High-hardness lime-based micro mortar with handcrafted finishes
Once again, we've done it. We have created a product with extraordinary hardness and exceptional mechanical strength, while also delivering stunning tadelakt and exposed concrete finishes on floors and walls that stand the test of time and keep their original appearance.
Limecrete EXTRA: lime-based micro mortar for preparation and finishing
Limecrete EXTRA is a highly versatile lime-based micro mortar that can be used for both the base and finishing stages of the application process.
This two-component lime-based coating, designed for floors and walls, can be used indoors and outdoors. Once applied, it makes surfaces stronger and more durable.
From an aesthetic standpoint, it makes it possible to achieve exposed concrete finishes, depending on whether it is reworked or not, by opening or closing the pore. Its coarse grain size also allows for rustic finishes when used as a final coat.
Limecrete BASIC: lime-based micro mortar for base and finish coats
This two-component lime-based micro mortar, with a finer grain than Limecrete EXTRA, makes it possible to achieve more natural finishes with the same level of resistance, both indoors and outdoors.
It can be used in both the preparation and finishing stages of the application process, when coating floors or walls, improving surface stability and durability in every case.
When used as a finish coat, this lime-based micro mortar creates rustic, stone-like finishes.
Limecrete MEDIUM: finishing lime-based micro mortar for floors and walls
This finishing lime-based micro mortar is used on both horizontal and vertical surfaces, indoors and outdoors alike, thanks to its hardness.
Made up of two components and formulated with lime, it stands up to the passage of time and does not crack or split under any circumstances. It gives the surfaces where it is applied a high level of strength, helping them stay in better condition for much longer.
Thanks to its composition, grain size, and workability, Limecrete MEDIUM makes it possible to achieve a wide variety of striking, attractive, and above all very natural finish effects and textures.
Why choose Limecrete lime-based micro mortar?
Limecrete is a decorative covering produced in the most sustainable way possible that is capable, through its application, of achieving surfaces full of exclusive textures and nuances. It brings naturalness and delicacy to any room but, nevertheless, it behaves as one of the most resistant lime-based micro mortars on the market and has a series of advantages that we detail below.
Continuity never interrupted
As it does not need expansion joints, Limecrete becomes a covering capable of generating infinite surfaces, wider and brighter, of endless beauty, as this is a material in which there are no fissures or cracks.
Outstanding adhesion
As a lime-based micro mortar, Limecrete offers exceptional adaptability. It can be applied over existing substrates and adjusts perfectly to them, whether the surface is concrete, cement, ceramic, cardboard, plaster, or drywall.
Maximum workability
This is a great advantage compared to other micro mortars because with such workability you can obtain the desired finish.
Finishes full of naturalness and color
As Limecrete can be worked over, it offers an immense range of effects and textures. Thus, the tadelakt or fair-faced concrete effects can be obtained in different finishes: matt, satin and gloss.
Can be applied with the "fresco on fresco" technique
This covering is decorative because it can be applied with techniques that would be unthinkable with other materials. Thus, it can be worked with the "fresh on fresh" technique to achieve these appreciated effects.
Hardness and durability in any space
Limecrete is a lime-based micro mortar with excellent decorative qualities, partly thanks to its high resistance and extra hardness. This allows it to last much longer when applied indoors or outdoors, on both walkable and non-walkable surfaces.
Maintains constant hygiene
Being lime-based, Limecrete has great antibacterial properties that keep any surface in perfect hygienic conditions. In addition, it is very easy to clean as stains and dirt do not cling to the surface.
The lime-based micro mortar with infinite aesthetic possibilities
Limecrete is a decorative coating that has been created with the purpose of being able to obtain an infinite amount of finishes. Thus, we take inspiration from the Moroccan decorative trend used on the walls of luxury riads and objects, such as vases, that decorated these traditional Moroccan buildings.
Respecting tradition, at Luxury concrete, we have modernised this material so that its effects can be adapted to any decorative style, both those that were trendy in the past and those that are trendy today.
In this way, this lime-based micro mortar, characterised by achieving effects and nuances that are only within its reach, such as tadelakt or exposed concrete, is capable of combining these with multiple decorative styles such as Nordic, rustic, classic or vintage.
Tadelakt: the tradition that is in fashion
Smoothness, naturalness, tradition, warmth, elegance, artisanal appearance... All these attributes are present in the walls and floors that are coated with Limecrete as our coating is based on this ancestral material that emerged in Morocco 2,000 years ago.
Exposed concrete: a touch of modernity
Limecrete also allows achieving visual effects like those of a material such as concrete that, when left in sight, becomes a very used aesthetic element in industrial environments. Thus, with this coating, rooms can be endowed with this appearance that combines very well with the industrial or minimalist decorative style.
Fresh on fresh: total customization
To achieve the highest level of customization on any surface, Limecrete allows application with the "wet on wet" technique. Thus, to apply the last layer, there will be no need to wait for the previous one to dry completely, so it can absorb all the decorative nuances that are always provided in the final layer.
The lime-based micro mortar with maximum technical performance
Limecrete is a lime-based micro mortar that not only guarantees exceptional decorative results. With this coating it is not necessary to use large quantities of material to achieve the desired results.
Of course, when applying it, we will have to take into account the support that is going to be coated, since the performance will depend, among other things, on this. Next, we are going to see how the different products of the Limecrete range behave in a standard application:
- LIMECRETE EXTRA – (1 coat): 1.2 kg/m²
- LIMECRETE BASIC – (1 coat): 1 kg/m²
- LIMECRETE MEDIUM – (1 coat): 0.6 kg/m²
How to apply Limecrete lime-based micro mortar on floors and walls
Step 1. Surface preparation
First, to ensure a successful application, the surface must be cleaned to remove grease and dirt. It should also be repaired if it has cracks or any other irregularities.
Step 2. Priming the floor or wall
To improve the adhesion of the lime-based micro mortar, the substrate must be primed using the correct primer for the specific surface.
Step 3. Install flexible fiber mesh
Before applying Limecrete, it is essential to use fiber mesh to help prevent cracks and fissures.
Step 4. Mixing the micro mortar with resin
(see proportions in technical sheet)
In this step, first pour the resin into a container. Then add the pigment and stir both components until you get a uniform mixture. Once the mixture is fully blended, add the Limecrete mortar and mix for 4 minutes at low speed.
Step 5. Apply 2 coats of Limecrete EXTRA/BASIC lime-based micro mortar
Apply two coats of Limecrete EXTRA or BASIC with a steel trowel, allowing 4 hours of drying time between coats. Then sand with 40-grit sandpaper. This step is important because it will determine the final finish. The first coat can be applied without pigment.
Step 6A. Apply 1 additional coat of Limecrete EXTRA/BASIC lime-based micro mortar
Although this is not the most commonly used method in this system, if a more rustic finish is desired, a third coat of Limecrete EXTRA or Limecrete BASIC can be applied to complete the application on either floors or walls. For this additional coat, allow 4 hours of drying time as well and, once dry, sand with 40-grit sandpaper.
Step 6B. Apply 2 coats of Limecrete MEDIUM lime-based micro mortar
If a more natural and elegant finish is desired, complete the floor or wall with 2 coats of Limecrete MEDIUM lime-based micro mortar. In fact, this is the standard process for this system. Drying time between coats: 4 hours. Once dry, sand each coat with 80-grit sandpaper.
Step 7. Sealing
Once the final coat of Limecrete has been applied, it must be sealed. The sealer should be applied 24 to 48 hours later. The process is as follows: first apply 2 coats of Primacrete Finish, allowing 4 hours between coats, and then finish with Concrete Finish WT Max varnish, with a drying time of 18 to 36 hours between coats.
Frequently asked questions about lime-based micro mortar
1. What is tadelakt?
Composed of various limes, tadelakt is a coating with a stucco effect that ensures finishes full of naturalness and very high levels of impermeability. It is a handmade decorative technique that is used when it is intended to obtain areas full of softness and spaces full of warmth.
2. What does tadelakt consist of?
Tadelakt is a decorative technique that emerged about 2,000 years ago, obtained by dyeing lime with natural pigments. Although it is an eminently traditional resource, which is manually applied with a trowel, its formula has evolved to mix lime and marble powder. This is obtained by dyeing the lime with natural pigments and then polishing it with pebbles.
3. What is the origin of tadelakt?
Tadelakt originated in Morocco, two millennia ago, as a decorative technique that was used to protect the walls of hammams from moisture, giving them a special touch. Likewise, due to its aesthetic qualities, it was also used in riads or to create decorative elements such as vases or jars.
As a term, it comes from the Arabic verb "dakala" and means "to polish, massage".
4. Main benefits of lime-based micro mortar
Lime-based micro mortar offers a range of technical and aesthetic advantages that make it one of the most widely used stucco finishes for creating durable surfaces with distinctive decorative effects. Below are some of its standout benefits:
100% sustainable
It is made with natural materials and through environmentally responsible processes designed to reduce its impact on the planet. This age-old coating is still produced using traditional methods to minimize its ecological footprint.
High waterproofing performance
This coating is especially suitable for spaces with very high ambient humidity. It is recommended for bathrooms and other rooms where water vapor is common, as it helps prevent mold and other moisture-related issues.
Multiple finishes
Along with its visual effects and nuances, lime-based micro mortar offers a wide range of colors to achieve highly customized finishes and create spaces that perfectly match each customer’s style.
Excellent durability
This coating makes it possible to create surfaces that stay in excellent condition, resisting impacts and other wear thanks to its lime-based composition.
Versatile application
Because of its outstanding building properties, lime-based micro mortar can be used on virtually any surface and in almost any setting. It can be applied to both walls and floors, indoors and outdoors. From facades to furniture, this coating has been proving its versatility for 2,000 years.
5. Is Limecrete applicable outdoors?
Having outstanding chemical and mechanical resistances, Limecrete is a tadelakt microcement that can be applied on surfaces that are outdoors with total guarantee.
6. Does lime-based micro mortar require mesh during application?
Because it is lime-based, Limecrete has very little shrinkage, making it a highly durable micro mortar in which cracks rarely appear. Even so, for the best results, the use of mesh is recommended, especially when covering flooring surfaces.
7. What primer is the most suitable?
At Luxury Concrete we have a range of adhesion promoters that can be applied with Limecrete. We recommend using Primacrete ABS or Primacrete Plus and, in the case of damp rooms, the Impoxy primer, our two-component epoxy system.
8. Is it possible to create new colors of Limecrete?
The Limecrete colour chart has 36 colors but, as a sign of its great adaptability to the customer's tastes, other shades can be created without any problem.
9. Are all Limecrete grain sizes suitable for floors and walls?
Yes. EXTRA, BASIC, and MEDIUM grain sizes can all be used on both floors and vertical surfaces. The only difference is that the first two can be used as both base and finish coats, while Limecrete MEDIUM is used only as a finish coat.
10. Can water or resin be added to Limecrete lime-based micro mortar?
Yes, but it must be done carefully. If you want to improve its flow, resin can be added as long as it does not exceed 2%. In any case, we recommend checking the technical data sheet.